tarantism
/ˈtɛrənˌtɪzəm/
noun
- A historical condition believed to be caused by the bite of a tarantula, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to dance.
- In medieval Italy, people thought tarantism could be cured by dancing wildly.
- The phenomenon of tarantism led to the creation of the tarantella dance.
- Historians study tarantism as an example of mass hysteria.
- A frenzied or manic urge to dance, sometimes used figuratively.
- Her tarantism made her dance all night without rest.
- The crowd was seized by a kind of tarantism at the music festival.
- The novel describes a village overcome by tarantism during the harvest celebration.